THE CURSE OF OPIUM.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10719, 28 September 1912, Page 4

THE CURSE OF OPIUM.

The anti-opium crusade in New Zealand has produced good results. There is need, however, for ,a similar crusade in all parts of the British Empire. The. following pathetic appeal to Britishers by I)r Sun Yat Sen is almost sufficient to bring the blush of shame to the cheeks of Anglo-Saxons:— ."Opium has been a great curse to-China. It has destroyed moro of our people than war, pestilence, or famine. Under a Republican form of Government it is our earnest desire to thoroughly stamp out this evil, and to complete tho work that has already been done in the opium reform. Since retiring from the office of Provisional President of the Republic I, have given much thought to this question. While T r-ealise that the most important thing is to stamp out the cultivation of opium in China, yet this is a very difficult task to do without at the same time prohibiting the sale and trade in the drug. With an opportunity to sell at Jiigli prices, the temptation to plant is very strong, and in such a large country, and under present conditions, it is almost impossible to stop it while permitting the sale of opium. We must make its sale and traffic illegal, and we can then stop its cultivation. At present we are hindered in this hecause of a treaty with your country. Remembering with grateful appreciation what you have done for me and for my country in the past, I appeal to you for further help to stop this sinful'traffic now-at the beginning of our new national life. We ask you in the name of humanity, and in the name of righteousness, to j grant, us the right to prohibit, with- | in our own land, the sale of this fearful poison, both the foreign and the native drug. We believe with the sale made illegal, we can soon put an end to the cultivation. I mako this appeal to you the British people on behalf of my fellowcountrymen."